to a REBNY board
meeting with me and I
guarantee you everyone
in that room is richer than
they are smart.”
Two Trees Management’s Jed Walentas,
expressing his disdain for the powers that be.
(New York Law School real estate forum)

“Land is back up to stupid
levels again.”
Scott Alper, principal at the Witkoff Group, on the price of
land in the city today. (Panel discussion by Haute Living)

“I’m very
close to
retirement.
I’m done.”
McSam Group’s Sam
Chang, talking for the
umpteenth time about
calling it quits while
continuing to strike deals.

“New York is characterized
by a kind of hysterical
NIMBY-ism. I’ve seen a lot
of Whole Foods go in, with
no deleterious effects.”
Former Parks Commissioner Adrian
Benepe, talking about the opening
of the supermarket in Gowanus
and the “Not In My Backyard”
mentality of some city residents.
(Wall Street Journal)
28 January 2014 www.TheRealDeal.com

“The sculptural

antenna is
the comb-over of
architecture.”
Radio host Peter Sagal, talking about
One World Trade Center being named
America’s tallest building. (NPR)

“We will never get what
you would get in a
traditional host city.”
King & Grove hotel executive Jim Zito, on
how New York’s glut of hotel rooms won’t
translate into the same bounce that hotel
owners in other cities normally see during
the Super Bowl. (Wall Street Journal)

“He was rather
— frugal.
And I said, ‘I
need to buy it.’ ”
Noted sex therapist
Dr. Ruth Westheimer,
on how her husband’s
concerns didn’t stop
her from purchasing
her Washington
Heights apartment
when it went co-op.
(New York Times)

“Tax expenditures
should not be used to
benefit individuals
with limited economic
commitment to
the city.”
A recent Independent Budget Office
report, calling for the end of 421a
abatements on pieds-à-terre owned by
foreigners. (Crain’s)

“In this business,
you can die at your
desk, unless you get
Alzheimer’s. Even if
you do get Alzheimer’s,
they’ll probably let
you keep going as long
as you have a bank
account.”
Peter Fine of Atlantic Development.
(Massey Knakal multifamily conference)